A List of Biotin-Rich Foods

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MALA SRIVASTAVA Last Updated: Oct 03, 2017

Mala Srivastava

Mala Srivastava covers health and business for several online publications. She holds a Master of Science in microbiology from India's HNB Garhwal University and a Master of Pharmaceutical Business Management from ICFAI University.

nuts like pecans are one source of Biotin
Photo Credit: Mona Makela/iStock/Getty Images

Biotin, also known as vitamin H, forms a part of the B complex group of vitamins. Like other B vitamins, biotin helps your body turn food into fuel for energy. This water-soluble vitamin also assists in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and amino acids, the basic building blocks of protein. As a result of being water-soluble, biotin is not stored in your body. Intestinal bacteria can manufacture biotin, however. You can meet your daily biotin requirement, which is 30 micrograms per day, by eating biotin-rich foods.

Yeast, Grains and Nuts

vitamin H can be found in whole grain breadPhoto Credit: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Brewer's yeast and nutritional yeast are good dietary sources of vitamin H. A 7-gram packet of yeast provides 1.4 to 14 micrograms of biotin, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Whole grains and whole-grain products contain respectable amounts of biotin. Eating a slice of whole-wheat bread will give you between 0.02 and 6 micrograms of vitamin H. Nuts such as almonds, peanuts, pecans and walnuts are other sources of biotin.

Eggs and Dairy

Eggs, especially the yolks, have one of the highest concentrations of biotin, with one large cooked egg offering 13 to 25 micrograms of biotin. Raw egg whites, however, contain a protein called avidin that prevents the absorption of biotin in your body, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. Dairy products such as milk and cheese are natural sources of this vitamin. Cheddar cheese provides 0.4 to 2 micrograms of biotin per 1-ounce serving.

Meat and Fish

there are 2 to 4 micrograms of Biotin in three ounces of cooked porkPhoto Credit: Liv Friis-Larsen/iStock/Getty Images

Liver contains high levels of biotin, with 27 to 35 micrograms of biotin in 3 ounces of cooked liver. Other organ meats such as kidney store significant amounts of biotin. Three ounces of cooked pork provides about 2 to 4 micrograms of biotin. Biotin can also be found in fish such as salmon and sardines. Cooked salmon has 4 to 5 micrograms of biotin per 3-ounce serving. The Linus Pauling Institute states that a 3-ounce serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards.

Fruits, Vegetables and Legumes

you can get 2 to 6 micrograms of biotin from an avocadoPhoto Credit: moodboard/moodboard/Getty Images

Most fresh vegetables contain biotin, says the Colorado State University Extension. One cup of raw cauliflower will provide you with 0.2 to 4 micrograms of biotin. One whole avocado has about 2 to 6 micrograms of this water-soluble vitamin. And a cup of raspberries supplies 0.2 to 2 micrograms of biotin. Soybeans and other legumes such as black-eyed peas and beans contain biotin. Bananas, nut butters and mushrooms are other biotin-containing foods.